River Gardens creator Strutt to have blue plaque

BELPER benefactor George Herbert Strutt is to be honoured with a blue plaque by Derbyshire County Council.

The Strutt family created the world's first cotton mill town in 1776.

George Herbert, who died in 1926, created the River Gardens in Belper, and built a grammar school and swimming baths.

The blue plaque will be put up at the Makeney Hall Hotel, his former home, near Milford. Its creation follows a public vote.

Coincidentally, Belper has this week acquired the only known painted portraits of his parents, George Henry and Agnes Strutt, to be put on display in the Strutt's North Mill Museum.

They were bought with Heritage Lottery funding through the Enlightenment Project, which enables museums to buy artefacts from the Enlightenment era.

Museum manager Natascha Wintersinger said: "They are beautiful portraits, and bring to life two of the key family members."

George Herbert Strutt's granddaughter, Lin Ryan, who lives in Ireland, said: "The plaque will not only be a fitting memorial to my grandfather but also for his youngest daughter, Bridget, my mum, who died in September this year.